Getting out of OHIO

We left Chicago early saturday morning, and were on our way to watch the Buckeye's beat Penn State in a football match. I missed most of the game do to drinking and catching up with old friends. There were about 50 of my college friends out to watch the game. It was great to see everyone and catch up.

Sunday we had my family over and to my parents house for some dinner and games. We set up the slack line it was a big hit! Check out Sammy walking the line, she is good. Then we watched a slide show of my parents trip to Alaska. The slide show was a short 150 picures about, that is cut down from 4000 picturs. My little brother fell asleep though anyways.

The next 3 days consisted of sleeping in late, doing a little bit of shopping for Samantha's conference, crafts, eating, and TV. Oh, and I almost forgot Original Nintendo. Sammy is a genius at Super Mario Bros - she beat the game in 5 minutes. She's a crazy video lady. She gave all the credit to Jason who is a subscriber to Nintendo Power.

We also went climbing in a gutted church called Urban Krag. This is one on the nices climbing gym I have ever been too.

So, Thursday night we headed down to Cinncinatti to have dinner with my old friend Nathan and my brother Paul. We had some Thai, played some scratch and wins, (though mostly we just scratched and lost) and drank some beers and watched a movie.

In the morning we left for Red River Gorge and some real climbing. We climbed some easier routes, but the weather was great and the rock was mostly dry. I am so happy we finally got some good weather for out door activities.

Tomorrow Paul and Rike (Paul's girlfriend) are going to climb with us. I can't wait.

oh, did I mention I like Samantha more than puppies.

Midwest

Finally we are in Ohio, at Gregg's parent's house. We are happy to not be driving anymore, and to be sleeping in a bed, sleeping late and lazing around.

We spent 2 days in Chicago, catching up with my old friends there - and visiting the museum of Science and Industry, where there is now a permanent exhibit of U505 - a military event which Gregg's grandfather is involved in. His name is up on the wall in the museum now.

Holy moly do I like sleeping in!!!! and doing crafts all day!!!!

Catching up on sleep and personal time has been oh so phenomenal for me. Gregg is a little bored with our unextreme lifestyle - but then again, when is he not bored!!!!!!

Gregg's house is HUGE here. 5 bathrooms - all with some sort of shower or bath - like 4 or 5 bedrooms - expansive lawn (pictures soon perhaps)...it's ridiculous!!!!

See a video of SFarb slacklining!

So-Dak

Here are more picture of Mt. Rushmore then you ever needed!!!!!
The momument really blows me away every time. I can't imagine sculpting with any precision whatsoever out of dynomite - or at that scale. And, of course, no trip to the Black Hills would be complete without a stop at Wall Drug - and a scenic detour through the magnificent Badlands National Park.

These pictures are out of order, BTW.

Nice Hills

Woke up in Sturgis around and started heading for Mount Rushmore. I was happy that the sun was finally shining, and it was a little warmer outside. As we entered the National Monument we had to stop and pay for an annual parking pass, 8$. Outrageous, that's more than I would pay to park in downtown Seattle!

I was very impressed with all the president's faces and all the granite buildings associated with the park. But I guess when you blow up a granite mountain you have a lot of material to work with. 90% of the monument was carved with dynomite.

With a quick stop at Walmart for more yarn for Sammie's newfound crochet addiction - we were now headed for some true americana - Wall Drug. I would have to say that Wall Drug is the Oriental Trading retail store in the flesh. I have never seen such a glorified collection of junk - but man was it fun to walk through! I even got to ride a Jackalope and drink some free ice water.

We then took the scenic route through the Badlands National Park. Those are some cool views - especially the cowboy with the lasso! (See Samantha's pictures) Ridiculous!! The Badlands were awesome and I wish we had more time to stop and take a bike ride though the park. The hills were cool with the shadows and there were natural yellow, red and purple colorings.

It was starting to get late so we decided to get dinner. After dinner we stopped by the Corn Palace. This palace is actually a local high school basketball arena whose exterior is covered with murals of the rodeo made out of different colors of corn. (Every so often the murals are changed, but always made of corn, of course)

South Dakota is a big state. We left the state about 11 and camped in Minnesota.

This morning we were awoken by a lot of cows mooing. (could've been sheep or horses as well) And some weird people drumming. It was weird, but the sun is shining and its going to be another great driving day as we head to Chicago today!

Yellowstone and Beyond...

Pictures to accompany Gregg's post.....The pictures aren't in order - but you wouldn't know anyway even if they were - now would you?!

Let's have a little test. Mom, Stepmom Diane, Karen, Dad - email me if you are reading this.

Washington to South Dakota

Samantha and I left later then we had originally planned (Sept 16th), because we wanted to be well rested for all the driving and sight seeing. We made it all the way to Missola, Montana - where we had dinner, and a stroll through Walmart so Sammy could buy so craft equiptment to keep her busy during the long drives. We camped outside Missola at Beavertail park, we arrived late and left early hence avoiding any fees.

***

(Sept 17th) Montana was much cooler that either one of us expected. I guess we should have checked a weather report before we left. The original plan was to head for Glacier NP but looking at the map and our loose schedual it did not fit in, so we headed for Yellowstone!!! Samantha and I have both already been there but I had never been to this part of the park. Spectacular!! The place is kind of creepy with all the dead trees and steam. But the best part is you can always blame the smell on nature. It wasn't me - it was the ground.

We also saw Old Faithful erupt - pretty cool.

As we headed out of the park we were treated to one of the most senic drives of all times. The road to Cody, Wy is lined with bison, lakes, and mountains. The resevoir between Yellowstone and Cody was beatiful. I think the grayness made everything look a bit more dramatic, but boy was it chillier that expected - about 40 degrees.

The plan was to climb Devil's Tower tomorrow but we were still on the other side of WY and it was starting to get late. We were both tired from the long day of driving and looking, but we need to make some ground so we pushed on. We headed over the Big Horn mountains to Sheridan and then further west toward the Tower. Unfortunetly, as I metioned it was cold out and there was some weather about - we started up the pass and it started to snow. This slowed us down but was enjoyable nonetheless. We made it to Buffalo WY by 11 and got a hotel so we would have a chance to get a good night sleep before our big climb.

As much as I was enjoying myself there was has not been enought time to sleep and relax. I was hoping to catch up on sleep this week but then I realized how big this country and that relaxing sleeping time was traded for driving time.

***

We woke up around 9 (Sept. 18th), still a couple hours from Devils Tower, but we were in no rush because the weather out the window was ominous. The weather report was cloudy and rainy with a high of 59 and high winds. Great climbing weather! I though this was the desert, it dosen't rain in the desert!

We got to the Tower the top was in a cloud and it was cold. The Rangers said that no one was climbing today and that the wind were suppose to pick up even more. We took the hike around the Tower and saw the intended climbing route. I was very disappointed - as this is one of the things I was most looking forward to doing on our road trip.

Oh, well it will have to wait for the next road trip.

We ended our day early in Sturgis. We were both tired and a little cranky so we got another hotel and took a nap and had some jucie to get ready for more fun tomorrow.

Leaving Day!

There is not much of note to report today - Gregg is currently writing a more thorough trip-o-logue...We left and drove as far away from Seattle as we could before the snoozies set in. Nowadays, that's about 10 pm or so. Lame!

Freedom!

I practically skipped out of my office Friday afternoon, with a sense of freedom that I hadn't felt in awhile. 5 weeks off!!!!! I finally started packing until dinner time, when we went out to farewell dinner with a gaggle of friends.

Gregg refreshicating for the big sojourn.

Aaron floored after receiving his Bday presents.

Brother Jason coming for the big sendoff dinner...

FAQ 2

From beloved reader Leora:
Q. What city/country/area do you desperately want to visit for the first time?

A. I really want to see Patagonia (Southern Argentina and Chile). I am also interested in going to Buddhist parts of Asia - such as Nepal, Tibet, and back to Thailand. I found Thailand to be one of the most peaceful places on earth, which I largely attribute to it's population of 95% Buddhists. I am also sort of enchanted by the idea of working in Antarctica....in summer of course...

Q. Or go back to?

A. Thailand as stated above, and also The Middle East - Jordan, parts of Turkey and parts of Egypt - and Israel / Palestine. I think region will always hold a special place in my heart.

Q. Or never go back to?

A. I can't really think of anywhere of the top of my head that I NEVER want to return to. Certainly places like Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio (Sorry Gemins!) and Jersey are not high on my list.

From beloved reader Lydia:
Q. How long can you hold your breath underwater?

A. Certainly no longer than 15 seconds. Providing I have me earplug in that is.

FAQ

Q. How do you and Gregg get so much time off work?

A. Gregg and I both are taking unpaid leave. Gregg gets about 45 minutes of "comp" time every day because of his ferry schedule - which has helped him take excessive vacation in the past. I am allowed as much unpaid leave as I want - I am up to probably around 2 months this year after this trip.

Time doesn't equal money, it equals happiness!!!!

Back on the Road!

Hello friends, family, neighbors, stalkers and puppies:
I have been laboring away trying to update my website, clean it up a bit, and get my stuff together for the road trip Gregg and I are leaving on. I know I have been lax about updating my blog - I have been so busy with trying to get my website and my work in order, I have had little time for everything else. I found while traveling, constantly updating my blog has become more of a burden for me than a pleasure - So I will attempt to find a balance between actually doing, and writing about doing.

Gregg and I are taking 5 well needed weeks to drive to the East Coast and back. Some of the destinations along the way will include: Glacier National Park, Montana; Climbing the Durrance Route on Devil's Tower in Wyoming; Possibly Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave and the Badlands in South Dakota; Seeing old friend in Chicago; Gregg's family in Ohio, Climbing at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, 3 nights in a swank, all paid for hotel on Pennsylvania Ave in DC - as I work at a Gasification Conference for a few days; visiting My family in Connecticut (I haven't been home in a year and a half); Taking a scenic flight around NYC, from my pilot friend Jason King; Climbing at the Gunks in New Paltz, NY.....and surely much more.

I am trying to find balance in my life. It is hard for so many reasons. I have had a hard time in the past separating obsession and excellence. Lately I am willing to give up excellence for balance.

Another note regarding balance: I am reading, as recommended by my brother, Awakening the Buddha within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World by Lama Surya Das. It is a wonderful book that encourages introspection to fix the ills in your life. It teaches how to find happiness within, as not to be so dependant on the outside world for happiness. Most interestingly, it does not suggest that anyone need to convert to Buddhism to attain this inner peace. It talks about how anyone, in any walk of life and any religion can find more peace in their life.

A Quote my wise older brother sent me, from the Dalai Lama in the movie Seven Years in Tibet -

"If the problem is such that there is a solution, there is no need to worry about it; if there is no solution, then there is no point in being overwhelmed and paralyzed."